Hazelnut Macaroons - German Christmas Cookies

Ingredients:

4 egg whites
1-1/4 cups (250g) extra fine sugar
1 lb. ground hazelnuts
1 tablespoon vanilla sugar
1/3 teaspoon vanilla extract
40 whole hazelnuts to decorate
40 small round baking wafers (Backoblaten)

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 300° F.

Beat egg whites until stiff. Add sugar and continue to beat until well combined. With a rubber spatula, carefully fold under hazelnuts, vanilla sugar and vanilla extract. Using a teaspoon, scoop dough onto a cookie sheet lined with baking parchment. If using baking wafers, place cookie dough onto small round baking wafers (Backoblaten) and transfer onto cookie sheet. Place a whole hazelnut on top of each cookie.

Bake on bottom rack at 300° for 30-40 minutes.